A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory invention won top honors at a recent national pitch contest, thanks to its water-repellent qualities and a little help from the Tri-City business community.Called ElastiDry Protective Coating, the material can be applied to personal protective equipment such as gloves, face shields, shoes, or protective suits,...

President, Benton Franklin Recovery CoalitionMichele GerberNumber of employees you oversee: 100+Brief background of recovery coalition: The coalition formed in June 2018, in response to the lack of detoxification services and inpatient treatment services for people suffering from Substance Use Disorder (addiction) in the Tri-City region. Our mission is to partner...

Kevin HustedKevin Husted, a longtime Tri-City insurance benefits broker, had a busy fall.Husted bought the insurance side of Advisor Benefits Group in the middle of not one but two open enrollment periods, Medicare and Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange.Husted is a 20-year insurance benefits and Medicare professional who previously worked for...

Seniors at home on the day the vaccine arrived at Brookdale Canyon Lakes readily rolled up their sleeves to receive it.The Kennewick senior living community had 18 hours’ notice to line up residents and staff for 200 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in mid-January.They were ready – and happy to...

Kathie and Darell “Bud” Weathermon will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary later this month but they won’t be able to hug, hold hands or share a kiss.Kathie, 75, plans to make the one hour and 15 minute drive from Walla Walla to Kennewick to visit her husband on their special...

As the pandemic marches on, a Richland-based group is trying different ways to keep seniors connected and get them the help they need.The Richland Senior Association offers educational, outreach and social programs, with its most recent program aimed at helping seniors navigate the decidedly unfriendly online system for registering for...

 A forced move amid a pandemic may have been a blessing in disguise for one Kennewick restaurant.Fresh Leaf Co. is moving to Richland with plans to open in March and expand its menu and hours.The restaurant closed the doors of its bright green building after more than five years at...

Ranae Pearce, left, and Lisa Killian.Ranae Pearce and Lisa Killian had everything they needed to launch a popcorn party business in early 2020, except for good timing.The two grandmas – their term - were ready to start “Popped” to provide gourmet popcorn bars at weddings, reunions, tailgates, showers, quinceañeras and...

Pat Howard was looking for something that would push himself the way playing golf used to.Howard, a Richland High School graduate, was a standout golfer who went on to compete for Oregon State University. He then worked as an assistant professional at Bellevue’s Overlake Golf and Country Club for the...

Katy and J.P. Moore are building a new home for their newly acquired Tri-Cities Buick and GMC dealership, which has outgrown its Kennewick quarters.“We’re bursting at the seams,” said Katie Forney, operations manager for Speck Dealerships, the family of car and truck dealers owned by the Moores.Speck GMC and Buick...